Notice Number: NOT-AI-17-012
Key Dates
Release Date: February 6, 2017
None
Issued by
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Purpose
The mission of the Division of AIDS (DAIDS), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute of Health (NIH) is to ensure an end to the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic by supporting research that can lead to the development of therapies, vaccines, and prevention strategies. Since the mid-1980’s animal models have played an important role in the Institute’s efforts to achieve its mission.
Nonhuman primate (NHP) models present the opportunity to test a variety of candidate AIDS vaccines, optimizing their ability to elicit immune responses and testing their ability to prevent infection or to control virus replication after virus challenge. NHP models can be used to optimize vaccines, to evaluate vaccine combinations, to determine vaccine delivery routes that provide immune responses at mucosal portals of entry, to find ways to generate broadly cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies, and, following challenge with virus, to determine whether or not the vaccine immunizations were effective. NHP models can also be used to explore a vaccine’s impact on the risk of acquisition of infection. NIAID supports NHP studies through both contract (Simian Vaccine Evaluation Unit contracts) and grant assistance mechanisms.
NIAID provides immunological and virological support for NHP studies conducted at NIAID’s Simian Vaccine Evaluation Unit (SVEU) contract sites and by DAIDS-supported vaccine researchers through four existing NHP Core Laboratories (NHP Core Labs): the Functional Genomics Lab, the Humoral Immunology Lab, the Cellular Immunology Lab, and the Viral Lab. The NHP Core Functional Genomics Laboratory has the objective of ensuring standardization and comparability of functional genomics services and assays conducted for the SVEU and DAIDS-supported preclinical NHP studies. Importantly, the ultimate aim is to apply and refine high throughput functional genomics approaches in NHPs to more effectively evaluate vaccine-induced adaptive and innate immune responses and vaccine efficacy in challenge/protection studies and identify responses (e.g., transcriptomic “signatures”) that predict vaccine efficacy.
The current “Nonhuman Primate Core Functional Genomics Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research and Development” contract was awarded to the University of Washington on July 1, 2013 for a 5 year period, under contract No. HHSN272201300010C.
The purpose of the proposed contract will be to provide support for a Functional Genomics Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Core Laboratory for the conduct and improvement of assays designed to generate specific quantitative genomic expression profiles and network diagrams from RNA samples obtained from NHPs enrolled in priority SVEU protocols and DAIDS-supported investigator-initiated NHP studies. The Contractor shall compile and analyze the generated data using bioinformatics and biocomputing tools (e.g., unbiased hierarchical clustering methods, sophisticated network algorithms, etc.) with the intent of identifying gene signatures that could potentially define correlates of protection and predict vaccine efficacy.
Project Requirements
Specifically, the Contractor shall be responsible for:
- Applying a state-of-the-art high throughput microarray/transcriptomic platform/assay systems to generate specific gene expression profiles (transcriptomic signatures) from NHPs enrolled in priority SVEU protocols and studies supported by investigator-initiated grants.
- Adopting state-of-the-art high throughput microarray/transcriptomic platform/assay systems as improved or alternative technologies develop, including increasing sensitivity and reproducibility, improving standardization, achieving greater throughput, and lowering costs; including having the understanding of, expertise in, and access to, assay development.
- Compliance with Good Clinical Laboratory Practices (GCLP, http://apps.who.int/tdr/svc/publications/tdr-research-publications/gclp-web) and BSL2.
- Optimization and validation of assays.
- Compiling and analyzing gene expression data using appropriate bioinformatics and biocomputing tools (e.g., unbiased hierarchical clustering methods, sophisticated network algorithms).
Assay development will not be supported under this solicitation.
Anticipated Period of Performance
It is anticipated that one cost reimbursement, term type contract will be awarded for a 1-year Base period plus six 1-year options for a possible total period of performance of 7 years beginning on or about March 30, 2018. The performance requirement will be for the delivery of 2.70 full time equivalents (FTEs) per year for the base period (Year 1) and option periods (Years 2 through 7), which may be unilaterally exercised by the Government.
In addition, the Government may unilaterally exercise Quantity Options to accommodate significant increases in work to be provided for the base period and option periods. Should the Government elect to exercise these options, the Contractor shall provide resources for the unanticipated increase in work
volume by 1.0 FTE for each option exercised. The Government may exercise an option up to two times in any year of the contract.
Any responsible offeror may submit a proposal which will be considered by the Agency. This RFP will be available electronically on/about February 21, 2017, and may be accessed through FedBizOpps http://www.fedbizopps.gov/ and the NIAID Office of Acquisitions (OA) Home Page at https://www.niaid.nih.gov/grants-contracts/contract-solicitation. This notice does not commit the Government to award a contract. No collect calls will be accepted. No facsimile transmissions will be accepted.
For this solicitation, the NIAID requires proposals to be submitted via its electronic Contract Proposal Submission system (eCPS). Submission of proposals by facsimile or e-mail is not acceptable.
For directions on using eCPS, go to the website https://ecps.nih.gov/NIAID/home/howto and then click on "How to Submit."
Inquiries
Please direct all inquiries to:
Robert Corno
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
Telephone: 240-669-5151
Email: cornorj@niaid.nih.gov
John R. Manouelian
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
Telephone: 240-669-5152
Email: manouelj@mail.nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
